Random thoughts for this week while not yet accustomed to CIF Southern Section championship football games so close to Thanksgiving and wondering whatever happened to Caleb Webb, two-time CIF Division 4 cross country champion in 2013-14 from Big Bear High School.

Six local high schools will vie for CIF Southern Section football championships this weekend with games in three Southern California counties. It’s the largest number since 1999, when seven area institutions participated in five title contests.

There will be four games on Friday and two more Saturday, perfect for a prep football junkie.

Cajon will be the home team Friday night when Nick Rogers’ Cowboys seek a second straight title. Cajon, Citrus Belt League champion, will play Chatsworth Sierra Canyon of the Gold Coast League in the Division 3 finale at San Bernardino Valley College.

Three other area teams will board the bus early in the afternoon. In the Division 8 title encounter, Coach Billy Cardosi’s Kaiser squad, Sunkist League winners, will head west to face Arcadia. San Gorgonio and head coach Rich McClure will go to Brea to face Brea Olinda in the Division 9 finale. In Riverside County, Ghalee Wadood will lead upstart Adelanto against second-seeded Perris Orange Vista in the Division 13 title bout.

Saturday will feature undefeated San Andreas League champion Eisenhower, led by head coach Al Brown, at home against top-seeded Highland in the Division 10 finale. Baseline League winner Upland, coached by Tim Salter, will head south to Moreno Valley to face Rancho Verde in the Division 2 championship game.

In 1999, four area teams won CIF championships. Diamond Bar defeated Upland, 17-14, in the infamous “fifth down” Division II game at Cal State Fullerton; Rancho Cucamonga won the Division V game at Chaffey College with a 30-22 decision over Menifee Paloma Valley; Bloomington won Division VIII with a 30-27 verdict over Barstow and Bonita was a 24-14 victor in the Division IX game against Brea Olinda. Arrowhead Christian lost a 21-14 contest to Pasadena Poly in Division XIII. …

There were rumblings in Rancho Cucamonga about the Chaffey College football program following the 2017 season. The Panthers had posted 3-7 and 2-8 records in 2016-17, a far cry from the 9-1 mark Ron Hadaway recorded in 2013 after taking over for the very successful Carl Beach. While such records were once a staple, it was no longer the case.

The talk continues these days, but it’s how Hadaway has restored confidence and prestige to the campus. Chaffey finished the season with a 51-21 victory over traditional rival Citrus in the Western State Bowl, capping a 10-1 season. The Panthers posted a 10-game win streak after a last-second 24-22 loss to L.A. Harbor in the opener.

For years, Chaffey was the exception among two-year institutions, staying local to fill out the roster. As a result, the Panthers played in front of larger-than-normal home crowds. That’s important for players seeking to continue at a higher level.

Freshman quarterback Caleb Arreola, with 26 touchdown passes, is from Chino Hills and top receiver Javian Lofton-Wilson, 11 TD receptions, is from Rancho Cucamonga. Summit gradate Andrew Rodriguez led the team in tackles and Jonathan Williams of Upland led the Panthers in sacks.

Indeed, the gridiron future looks good at Chaffey College. …

For high school cross country runners, success in November and December can usually be traced back to summertime sweat. Folks who live in Claremont will readily attest to runners throughout town and the foothills during the hot months. It’s paying off.

Once again, Claremont won a CIF cross country title last Saturday in Riverside and is prepping this week for Saturday’s State Meet in Fresno. The Wolfpack of coach Bill Reeves is among the favorites to finish first at Woodward Park. That’s not unusual, however, it was a freshman that paced the sectional championship effort last week.

Maddie Coles made her move with about a half-mile remaining in the 5-mile race to take first in 16:54.2. Claremont won the title easily, 69-114, with Mission Viejo second.

It was a strong team effort. Coles was followed across the finish line by senior Sydney Hwang (11th, 17:26.9), junior Azalea Segura Mora (14th, 17:36.5; senior Kalina Reynolds (19th, 17:46.0) and senior Julia Marriott (24th, 17:51.7)

Our Top 10 for large schools football with one week remaining in the Southern Section:

1. Cajon (1) — Cowboys making the city proud

2. Upland (2) — Scots have date with destiny

3. Bonita (3) — season over

4. Alta Loma (4) –season over

5. Rancho Cucamonga (5) — season over

6. Redlands East Valley (6) — season over

7. Chino Hills (7) — season over

8. Citrus Valley (8) — season over

9. Chino Hills (9) — season over

10. Diamond Ranch (10) — season over

Four teams in the finals dominates the top in the lower division Top 10:

1. Kaiser (1) — Cats back in title game

2. Eisenhower (2) — Eagles maintain old memories

3. San Gorgonio (3) — is SAL toughest league outside D1?

4. Adelanto (6) — surprise team of the playoff

5. Serrano (4) — season over

6. Garey (5) — season over

7. Aquinas (7) — season over

8. Oak Hills (8) — season over

9.. Apple Valley (9) — season over

10. Pomona (10) — season over. …

Over the years, there have been many football players from local high schools who have matured into successful head coaches. The question often asked is who has generated the best overall results?

From this standpoint, it’s Josh Henderson. The Fontana High School graduate, who started his head coaching career at Fontana Ambassador Christian, a school that only had one goal post (railroad tracks cut the field short), has won three CIF titles and finished second two other times. Henderson will go after his fourth championship Friday night when he leads Simi Valley Grace Brethren against Corona del Mar.

His first CIF title was in 2000 at Aquinas against Pasadena Poly in Division XIII. He also won in 2005 in Division XII against Ontario Christian, but had a 12-year wait before guiding Grace Brethren past Antelope Valley. Grace Brethren was forced to forfeit its 2013 title game against Saddleback Valley Christian and lost in the 2014 championship game to San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s.

Through it all, Henderson gives one man plenty of credit for his triumphs.

“I’m proud to have played football in Fontana from seven years old on,” he said before the 2017 state title game. “The pinnacle was playing and learning from the best coach I’ve ever known, Dick Bruich. Fontana was a true football town and the Inland Empire football mecca in the 80’s and early 90’s.” …

Honors keep piling on the Cal State San Bernardino women’s volleyball team, which finished second in the West to Western Washington in five sets. The results might have been reversed had the NCAA made the Coyotes the home team.

Coach Kim Cherniss had three players selected to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-West Region team. Alexis Cardoza, a sophomore from Chino Hills, was a first-team selection and Region Player of the Year while Jayann DeHoog, out of Bakersfield, was also a first-teamer. Hailey Jackson, another local from Apple Valley, was named second team for the second consecutive season.

Cardoza better build a trophy shelf in her home. Her honors include CCAA Player of the Year, all-CCAA first team, CCAA Tournament MOP, and CCAA all-tournament. A two-time player of the week, she recorded 12 double-doubles. DeHoog was the CCAA Setter of the Year and Jackson finished as a four-time all-CCAA selection. …

In the CIF quarterfinals, the ol’ Flea Picking System was 11-3 (.786), taking the season total to 283-108 (.724). Our predictions for the CIF football finals:

Division 1: St. John Bosco gets its title by stopping Mater Dei; Division 2: Upland’s Tim Salter out a winner against Moreno Valley Rancho Verde; Division 3: Cajon continues run at home vs. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon; Division 4: Josh Henderson a winner again as Simi Valley Grace Brethren stuns Corona del Mar; Division 5: Palos Verdes at Lawndale; Division 6: Like the old days as West Covina South Hills spoils Oxnard’s season

“To be able to end a season with a win is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” OCHS coach Paige Liebhart said. It sure seems that way for San Bernardino schools, as the Knights and Rim of the World (1981-83, 2004) are the only county schools with state titles in the sport.

Of course it aided OC that senior Annaka Jorgenson had one of her best games: 21 kills, 17 digs, five block assists and two aces. Not a bad line to cap a high school career, and she wasn’t alone. Jenna Holmes contributed 14 kills and digs, Peyton Tazelaar added 13 kills and Giselle Vogel has 32 assists. …

The University of Redlands and Cal State San Bernardino cross country runners completed the season in rather harsh weather last weekend, a far cry from the conditions they usually face.

In the NCAA Division II West Regional in Billings, Montana, the temperature at the start was in the 20s, with snow on the ground. Michelle Pineda Palacios paced the Coyotes, who finished 12th out of 12 teams, by finishing 37th out of 180 runners. Cal State placed five runners in the top 100.

Redlands had three runners at the Division III Championships in frigid Winneconne, Wisconsin, over the Lake Breeze Golf Club. In her second national meet, Maria Ramirez paced the Bulldogs with a six-mile run in 22:45.3. It was weather Tucker Cargile, from Denver, was somewhat accustomed to as he covered the 8K I 25:49.4 to come in 140th. …

In addition to football, Thanksgiving in Southern California also means a traditional auto racing event. The 78th Turkey Night Grand Prix, which started at Ascot Speedway in Gardena, will run Wednesday and Thursday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Some of the country’s best racers — Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorsen and Rico Abreu for example — will compete in Midgets and Sprint Cars.

On a personal note: On the day before Thanksgiving, expressing thanks to all those who have been encouraging and supportive during a difficult six-month period. Tough times are still ahead. but knowing there is plenty of encouragement makes the journey a bit smoother.

Lou Brewster is a nationally recognized motorsports journalist who has staffed NASCAR and NHRA events since 1969. Has also staffed high school football, in five different states, since 1967. Has won several national awards in writing and breaking news.